Tyler Rose Museum President Lonny Uzzell speaks during a press conference to announce the royal court and theme of the 86th Texas Rose Festival at Willow Brook Country Club in Tyler, Texas, on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. (Chelsea Purgahn/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Hanna Claire Waits, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Scott Waits, will preside as queen over the 86th Texas Rose Festival, which will follow the theme “Portraits of Inspiration.”

Texas Rose Festival President Britt Brookshire made the announcement at a news conference Thursday at Willow Brook Country Club.

Elizabeth Anne Schoenbrun, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Mano Schoenbrun, will serve as princess of the Texas Rose Festival.

Alexis Renee Smith, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Burton and Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Smith, will serve as duchess of the Rose Growers.

Miss Waits, 19, a student at the University of Oklahoma, said she is honored to serve as queen of this year’s festival and shared her thoughts about the event’s local impact.

“We all know that the Rose Festival is not just about the breathtaking costumes and fun parties, but about promoting Tyler and the rose industry,” she said. “The Rose Festival enhances commerce and tourism, bringing our entire community together to celebrate.”

She also expressed thanks to Brookshire for choosing her as queen, as well as to the many members of her family who have been involved in the festival over the years.

“I would especially like to recognize my mother, Laura Waits; my grandmother, Jean Hanna; and my aunt, Sheri Hanna for being great role models all of my life,” she said. “I’ve watched you all serve in many different festival positions and I appreciate all you have done to allow me to be the queen.”

Miss Schoenbrun, 19, a student at the University of Arkansas, described the festival as the city’s most beautiful tradition and said she was very happy to serve as princess.

“Since serving as a royal attendant to the queen in 2008, I’ve looked forward to the day I would get to share this experience again, with both my Tyler friends and the new friends I will make over the course of this year,” she said. “It’s even more exciting because I get to experience all of this with literally my oldest friend Hanna.”

“Some of my fondest memories of the festival are from when I was a royal attendant with my good friend Liz Schoenbrun,” Miss Waits later said. “We looked up to Queen Sarah Clyde and the rest of her court in awe, dreaming that someday it would be us.

“It’s amazing to think that we are here now serving together in this year’s festival,” she added.

This year’s 13 ladies-in-waiting and 10 attendants to the queen were also introduced at the news conference. 

Organizers said the “Portraits of Inspiration” theme will portray the legacy of outstanding and unforgettable women who are role models and great talents in their respective fields. 

After the announcements, members of the court and their families attended the 2019 Winter Gala, which honored Billie Hartley, the Tyler Rose Museum’s founding president and current vice president.

Located inside the Rose Garden Center, the Tyler Rose Museum operates as a nonprofit that preserves and showcases the history of Tyler’s rose growing industry and the Texas Rose Festival. 

The festival will take place in October.

“The Rose Festival is truly something special that creates lifelong memories that we can cherish together,” Miss Waits said in a room with other festival participants and their families. “I look forward to an amazing year, and I cannot wait to share this experience with all of you.” 

This year’s ladies-in-waiting are: 

• Sydney Luisa Brunette, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. James Hardy Brunette
• Courtney Ann Bugg, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Bugg
• Sarah Catherine Caton, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Gregory G. Caton
• Lauren Elizabeth Evans, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. William Lenville Evans Jr.
• Carly Sloan Furqueron, daughter of Dr. & Mrs. Buddy Furqueron
• Anna Grace Gregory, daughter of Dr. & Mrs. Tom Gregory
• Chesley Payton Kelly, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Scott Sepmoree
• Anna Catherine Negem, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Jimmy Michael Negem Sr.
• Ashley Anne Oldham, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Paul Gregory Oldham
• Patricia Robinson, daughter of Mrs. Naomi Machin
• Lindsey Christine Smith, daughter of Dr. & Mrs. Timothy R. Smith
• Stella Caroline Thomas, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Kevin Scott Thomas
• Madeline Grace Varga, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. William Isaac Rohrer

This year’s queen’s attendants are:

• Chad Robert Brookshire Jr., son of Mr. & Mrs. Chad Robert Brookshire Sr.
• Scarlett Drew Dawson, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Adrian Trent Dawson
• August James Hanna, son of Mr. & Mrs. James Chad Hanna

• Locklin Lee Harrison, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Michael Harrison
• Preston Stanford Jackson, son of Mr. & Mrs. Benjamin Stanford Jackson
• Nina Elizabeth Jackson, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Steven Jackson
• Michael Bowen Jenkins, son of Mr. & Mrs. Michael R. Jenkins Jr.
• Olivia Louise Saar, daughter of Dr. & Mrs. James Douglas Saar
• Knox Lane Tucker
, son of Mr. & Mrs. Matthew Harris Tucker 
• Thomas Moroney Woldert III, son of Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Moroney Woldert Jr. 

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